Bollywood: Big Screens + Streaming: USC’s New Connection to Indian Cinema
by Tamanna Sood ‘24
In early March, the School of Cinematic Arts brought Bollywood: Big Screens + Streaming, a series of Bollywood movie screenings and panels, to campus. Acclaimed Hindi-language films including Gully Boy, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, and Raees were shown in theaters across campus and were followed by panels featuring Indian film industry icons like producer Ritesh Sidhwani, director Zoya Akhtar, and music composer Ankur Tewari.
As an Indian cinema enthusiast and an avid Bollywood fan, USC’s decision to highlight Bollywood meant a lot to me, and I was really excited to attend the panels and screenings. It’s always been a dream of mine to see Zoya Akthar in person, and the fact that I was able to see her on my own campus felt nothing short of magical. It was obvious that I wasn’t the only person who felt so much excitement and gratitude as almost all the screenings and panels were filled to the brim with enthusiastic audiences.
Although the panels and screenings were interesting and gratifying to see, a part of me was a little disappointed by the distance between the student body and the speakers. I wished there were more opportunities for students to speak directly with the professionals.
Reva Pau, a junior majoring in Theatre and minoring in Cinematic Arts, would one day like to work in the Indian film industry and attended the panel hoping to get a chance to connect with someone working in the industry.
“SCA’s Bollywood Industry panel was a great event and opportunity for Hindi film fanatics at USC. However, I do wish the panel had more of an interactive component. The discussion was interesting but not particular to USC students or aspiring filmmakers,” shared Pau, conveying her disappointment in the panel’s overall direction.
“I wish more of a Q&A was incorporated so listeners could ask panelists personal questions. This could bridge the gap between professionals and students,” she stated.
The conversations during the panels approached the films from an academic lens and didn’t leave much or any room for student interaction. This felt like a missed opportunity on behalf of SCA. As a globally renowned film program, SCA has the potential to cultivate a strong connection with the Indian film industry and create connections for students looking to work in film abroad.
Being in the room with so many other South Asian film lovers during these panels made me consider the potentially sizable number of students at USC who want to work in international cinematic markets. The Indian film industry, in a lot of ways, is larger than the Western film industry due to its size and the multiple different regional-language industries it encompasses. The opportunities for success in Indian film are much greater than that of Hollywood just due to the scope of the industry. Not to mention, music and playback songs are integral to Bollywood films, allowing composers and musical artists to also achieve stardom through that avenue.
A new connection between SCA and Bollywood leaders could help develop a clear track for students interested in Indian cinema to reach their goals. With this screening series, possibilities for future programs and even classes tailored toward international markets seem extremely feasible and in demand. Bollywood: Big Screens + Streaming marked a significant step forward for SCA’s connection to the Indian film industry. The sheer attendance at these panel screenings show the potential for collaborations between SCA and Bollywood. The series has sparked conversations about the future of international filmmaking and the multiple it presents to aspiring multicultural filmmakers on campus.
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